The University of Tartu maintains its position in the top 3%

04.10.2012

One of the world’s most reputable university league tables, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, published its newest list of the best universities worldwide on Wednesday evening. In the 2012-13 rankings, the University of Tartu has maintained its position in the world’s best 3%, ranking in the 351-400 range, the same as last year.

Phil Baty, editor of the THE rankings, commented: "The Czech Republic and Estonia both held on to their sole representatives in the world top 400, not just against mounting competition from Asian institutions, but also against a number of institutions who submitted data to the rankings for the first time this year. So this was a solid performance. But competition is growing, and neither country can afford to rest on its laurels."

According to Estonian Minister of Education and Research Jaak Aaviksoo, it is worth noting that many well-known Central and Eastern European universities have not been included in the THE ranking table. "Estonian and Czech universities rate positively – in a context of increasing international competition, they have maintained their position. This gives us confidence that Estonian universities, led by the University of Tartu, are on the international level," added Minister Aaviksoo.

The University of Tartu’s Rector, professor Volli Kalm, says that UT maintaining its position in the top is an acknowledgement for the whole University community. "At the same time, this result also sets us a responsibility to constantly strive to uphold the reputation and the international position of the university, in order to be considered an equal partner among the world’s leading universities," Rector Kalm clarified.

THE is compiled through a comparison of 13 calibrated performance indicators which describe the learning environment, research output volume and impact, academic reputation, income, innovation and international outlook.

The QS World University Rankings, which ranks the best 700 universities worldwide, also recently published its 2012-13 table. The University of Tartu maintained its position here as well, just outside the top 500, in the 501-550 group. QS also ranks universities according to their academic reputation in five research areas. Last year, UT ranked 381st in the area of Life Sciences and Medicine, and this year, Humanities at UT entered the top 400 (also at 381).